Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand has appealed to the Indian Diaspora in New Zealand to rise to the challenges posed by cultural diversity and foster its positive aspects to the country’s progress.
Inaugurating the 85th Annual General Meeting of the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) held at the Palmerston North Community Leisure Centre in Palmerston North on April 16, he paid tributes to the resilience and commitment of the early Indian settlers in New Zealand and their efforts to promote the cultural heritage of their homeland under difficult and often restricted circumstances.
Quoting Ethnic Affairs Office Director Mervin Singham, he said, “Cultural awareness is the oil that makes the wheels of multicultural societies move more smoothly, but this cultural awareness must be active, not passive. Now is the time to turn out diversity into action. We must move beyond merely celebrating our cultures to actively unlocking the creative potential our diversity brings for New Zealand.”
Sir Anand said that the ‘Immigration Restriction Act 1899’ required that a European language be used to fill in the necessary application forms, and in 1920 a new Immigration Act introduced a permit system.
He said it was against such a background that NZIA was established in 1926.
“The Association was formed because the Indian community felt the need for a body to represent it; to promote harmony with other groups; to respond to misleading information about Indian people in New Zealand and to help members of the Indian community in all aspects of their lives. From just three branches in 1926, in Auckland, Wellington and Taumarunui, the Association has grown to have 17 today, with associate members like cultural groups as well as regional branches,” he said.
Lady Susan Satyanand accompanied Sir Anand to the AGM. Among the other dignitaries present were India’s High Commissioner Retired Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Members of Parliament Dr Rajen Prasad (Labour) and Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (National) and Palmerston North City Councillor Tangi Utikere.
Later the Annual General Meeting re-elected the main office-bearers to their existing posts for 2011-2012. They included Paul Singh Bains (President), Harshad Patel (Vice-President); Raj Singh Thandi (General Secretary), Raj Bedi (Assistant Secretary) and Manjit Singh (Treasurer).
